Gas-engine



E. MBRBDITEL GAS ENGINE.

Patented Deo. 14, 1897.

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l UNTTED STATES PATENT @Tirion EDWIN MEREDITH, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 595,489, dated December 14, 1897.

i Application filed September 18, 1895. Serial No. 562,886l (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN MEREDITH, of Batavia, in the county of Kane, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, ref-v erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a central longitudinal section of a gas-engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view in section of the igniting device, and Fig. 3 a side view thereof.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in the several figures.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved gas or explosive engine; and to this end said invention consists in thegas-engine having the construction substantially as and y for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the carrying of my invention into prac-4 tice I employ two cylinders A and A, closed at both ends and suitably supported in line with each other, in each of which is a piston B. Each piston has a length nearly half that of its cylinder, and both are attached to the same piston-rod O, that passes through a suitable packing or stuffing box a, at the inner end of each cylinder. Attached to the pistonrod at its longitudinal center is a cross-head D, that is connected by two rods E and E with two cranks F and F upon a shaft G, to which the reciprocations of the pistons are thus imparted.

The gas is ignited and exploded at the outer end of each cylinder A and A alternately, and is admitted to the cylinder at the end of the instroke of its piston through a port a, opening through the cylinder side at or near its longitudinal center, so as to be uncovered by the outer end of the piston when the same has completed its instroke. Both cylinders are supplied with gas from a common source, each port a being connected thereto by means of a valved pipe II, the valve h therein being normally held toits seatby a spring and adapted to be opened for the passage of gas by the suction produced when the piston makes its outstroke. The gas passing the valve h is, however, rst delivered through a port 0.2 to the cylinder at the inner end of the piston, and thus subjected to an initial or first pressure by the latter as it makes its instroke before being delivered at the outer end of the cylinder to be exploded.

Projecting from the outer end of each piston is an arm bhhaving a right-angled extension b', that constitutes one of the contacts ofan electric sparker or igniter, the other contact of which consists of a radial arni i, carried at the 'inner end of a rock-shaft I, that passes through the cylinder side, from which it is suitably insulated. At its outer end the shaft I carries a radially-extendin g spring-plate K, that projects upon both sides of said shaft and by means of a coiled spring L, attached to one end, has its other end yieldingly held against a pin or post M, that is connected with a suitable source of electricity. On its outstroke the piston carries its arm h' into contact with the arm e', and, rocking the shaft, passes off said arm e', and,lthus breaking the circuit, produces the igniting-spark. The direction of movement thereby given the shaft I is such that the plate K is not moved from but is pressed against the post M. On the instroke of the piston the arm b engages the shaft-arm e', and, rocking said shaft, passes by the arm. No spark is caused in the cylinder at this time, since the direction of movement of the shaft is such as to move the plate K from'the post M.

It will be seen that a good wiping contact between the two arms b' and i is had, which most effectually keeps the same clean and bright and thus insures an efficient spark.

Each cylinder has at or near its longitudinal center an exhaust-port N.

The operation of my engine will be readily understood. The instroke of one piston will, through the piston-rod, move the other piston outward, and the latter will thus draw gas into its cylinder at the inner end thereof and shortly after its start outward cut o the supply of gas through the inlet-port a and at the proper time, by the igniting devices described, explode the gas at the outer end of the cylinder. piston under the influence of the explosion the gas previously drawn into the cylinder thereby will be compressed and upon the uncovering of the port a' be transferred therethrough to the opposite side of the piston.

Upon the instroke of the IOO It will be observed that upon each stroke of both pistons a cushion is provided by the volume of gas that is being given its initial compression upon the inner end of one piston and the volume of gas that is being given its final compression on the outer end of the other piston.

By the employment of a single piston-rod, to which both pistons are attached, the pistons are rigidly held and guided in their reciprooations Without being disturbed by the varying angular position of the connectingrods. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder and piston, a rock-shaft extending through the cylinder-wall from the interior to the exterior, a radial arm forming an electrode, on the shaft within the cylinder, an electrode carried by the piston,.adapted to engage and pass by said radial arm, and an larm on the shaft outside the cylinder, resting against a piece forming part of the electric circuit, and free to be moved therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder and piston, a rock-shaft extending through the cylinder-Wall from outside to inside, a radial arm, forming an electrode, on the shaft Within the cylinder, an electrode carried by the piston, adapted to engage and pass by said radial arm, and a spring-arm on the shaft, outside the cylinder, resting against a piece forming part of the electric circuit, and free to be moved therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of August, 1895.

EDWIN MEREDITH. Witnesses:

NATHAN J. ALDRICH, GEORGE MEREDITH. 

